Residents Evicted as Court Ruling Leads to Demolition of Homes at Savannah Junction, Tema
Several families in Community 25 at Savannah Junction near New Dawhenya have been left homeless after a court-ordered demolition of their houses in a long-standing land dispute.
The operation, which involved police, military personnel, and bailiffs, followed a court ruling favouring one party in the protracted land conflict.
One of the affected residents, Janet Baidoo, narrated the traumatic experience, saying her family had legally acquired their property about 11 years ago and had no knowledge of any ongoing litigation.
“We acquired the house and land with my mum and siblings about 11 years ago. It was a fully completed building, and we never heard anything about any dispute,” she told Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem.
Ms. Baidoo said the eviction came as a shock when security personnel suddenly surrounded the area on Wednesday morning and ordered residents to leave.
“On Wednesday morning, I was called that police and soldiers had surrounded the area, asking everyone to evacuate because there was a court case they had won,” she recounted.
She added that the situation was particularly confusing because residents had previously heard different parties claiming ownership of the land.
“Another party had also claimed to have won a case before, so we were confused about what was happening,” she said.
According to her, security personnel entered homes and began removing residents’ belongings. Despite attempts to contact those who sold the land to them, there was no response. Residents also sought intervention from the Municipal Chief Executive at Prampram, who reportedly asked them to remain calm as discussions were ongoing.
However, demolition resumed last Saturday during heavy rainfall.
“Last Saturday, during heavy rain, they stormed the place again. My brother rushed there and saw that the area had been cordoned off with bulldozers, and our house—built with our hard-earned money—was being pulled down,” she said emotionally.
Ms. Baidoo noted that her elderly mother, who is over 70 years old, has been deeply traumatised by the incident.
Other affected residents have expressed similar devastation, alleging they were caught in the middle of multiple land sales and competing claims by different individuals presenting themselves as rightful owners.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the persistent problem of land litigation and multiple sales of the same plots of land in parts of the Tema enclave, leaving many families displaced and uncertain about their future.
